Written Answers Wednesday 27 April 2005

Scottish Executive

Animals

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects horse passport regulations to be brought before the Parliament for consideration.

Ross Finnie: The Horse Passports (Scotland) Regulations 2005 were made on 21 April 2005 and laid before Parliament on 22 April 2005.

Cancer

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what alternatives to zometa are recommended by the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) to treat skeletal-related events in prostate cancer patients.

Mr Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-15637 on 25 April 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  Taking account of the best information and evidence available decisions about treatment options for patients with skeletal related events in prostate cancer are made jointly between individual patients in consultation with their clinician.

  It is not SMC’s role to recommend alternatives to newly licensed medicines, new formulations of existing medicines and any major new indications for established products that it considers.

Care of Elderly People

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the frequency and outcomes of inspections by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland of hospitals providing continuing care for older people.

Mr Andy Kerr: It is the role of NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) to monitor the quality of care provided in hospitals providing continuing care for older people. It published the national overview for older people in acute care in February 2004. It has also recently developed and consulted on new standards for services for older people.

  The NHS QIS review process involves:

  A self-assessment of its service against the standards by each NHS board or service. A review team then undertakes an external peer review of performance. NHS QIS reports and publishes the findings based on the self-assessment exercise and on the external peer review.

  The Scottish Executive Health Department considers all reports published by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland. Where concern is raised regarding the attainment of a standard this will be considered as part of the performance management process and where necessary at the annual review meeting with the NHS board.

Child Protection

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how the establishment of the Centre for Child Protection will affect the responsibilities and operation of the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit within the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency in respect of child protection on the internet.

Cathy Jamieson: We do not anticipate that the role of the NHTCU(s) will change. We envisage that any information received by the new centre which relates to a Scottish case will be passed to the NHTCU(s) where it would be assessed as at present to determine the appropriate level of response. This would include issues surrounding child protection on the internet.

Civil Service

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre copies of any communications with Her Majesty’s Government regarding the post of First Secretary (Scottish Affairs).

Mr Tom McCabe: It is not our policy to release information between UK Government Departments and the Executive on staffing matters.

Civil Service

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes have been agreed and what changes are proposed in respect of the post of First Secretary (Scottish Affairs) and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Mr Tom McCabe: All posts are kept under constant review and changes are made as necessary in response to changing business needs.

Council Tax

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many households have received a (a) 25% council tax rebate, (b) 50% council tax rebate or (c) qualified for 100% council tax benefit in each of the last five financial years, broken down by local authority.

Mr Tom McCabe: The table giving the number of households, broken down by local authority, which were in receipt of 25% and 50% discounts as at September in each of the last five years is available from the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 36273). Information on the number of households who qualify for 100% council tax benefit is not held centrally, as benefits are a reserved issue administered by the Department of Work and Pensions and individual local authorities.

Energy Efficiency

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how it provides incentives for the uptake of micro combined heat and power gas boilers in domestic and public buildings.

Mr Jim Wallace: This is a reserved matter.

  Micro combined heat and power (mCHP) technology is in its infancy and as such the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is currently supporting field trials of mCHP being undertaken by the Carbon and Energy Saving Trusts. DEFRA is awaiting the results of these field trials before taking any firm decisions on the best way to support mCHP in the future. However, in the meantime the Chancellor has announced a reduced rate of VAT for mCHP in the Budget.

Fresh Talent Initiative

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide the data that supports the First Minister’s statement that "In 1999, the figure for Scottish students who stayed in Scotland was 79 per cent; today it is 89 per cent" ( Official Report , c. 16048).

Mr Jim Wallace: The data are obtained from a voluntary survey of leavers from full-time courses at Scottish higher education institutions which is conducted for the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), as explained in the answer to question S2W-16061, answered on 27 April 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  The table contains the information referred to in your question.

  Scottish domiciled graduates from Scottish higher education institutions that are in permanent employment six months after graduation: percentage with employment in Scotland: 1999-2000 to 2002-03:

  

Academic Year
Percentage with Employment in Scotland


1999-2000
79


2000-01
85


2001-02
87


2002-03
89

Fresh Talent Initiative

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many graduates from Scottish universities in each year since 1999 were employed in Scotland, where applicable, (a) six months, (b) one year, (c) two years and (d) five years after graduation, expressed also as a percentage of graduates in each year.

Mr Jim Wallace: The data held by the Scottish Executive are obtained from a voluntary survey of leavers from full-time courses at Scottish higher education institutions which is conducted for the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). The survey is conducted around six months after graduation. At present there are no follow-up surveys at longer intervals after graduation.

  The survey covers all students of nationalities within the European Union who have successfully completed their course.

  The table gives the percentages of responding graduates from Scottish higher education institutions who were employed in Scotland six months after graduating, for the years 1998-99 to 2002-03.

  As the survey is voluntary, not all graduates respond. However, response rates are quite high, ranging between 76% and 84% in the period 1998-99 to 2002-03. Estimates of the numbers of graduates in permanent and temporary employment in Scotland have been calculated on the assumption that those who do not respond are as likely to be in employment in Scotland as those who do respond. The estimates should, therefore, be treated with some caution.

  First Destination of Graduates from Higher Education Institutions by Level of Qualification Obtained: 1998-99 to 2002-03

  

 Year 
Permanent Employment in Scotland (% of Respondents)
Temporary Employment in Scotland (% of Respondents)
Numbers of Graduates1
Estimated Number in Permanent Employment in Scotland2
Estimated Number in Temporary Employment in Scotland2


Total
 
 
 
 
 


1998-99
36
10
38,800
13,950
3,900


1999-2000
36
11
42,310
15,250
4,650


2000-01
38
11
41,730
15,850
4,600


2001-02
35
18
44,105
15,450
7,950


2002-03
38
17
44,350
16,850
7,550


Postgraduate
 
 
 
 
 


1998-99
37
10
10,615
3,950
1,050


1999-2000
38
12
12,870
4,900
1,550


2000-01
40
12
12,110
4,850
1,450


2001-02
20
46
12,520
2,500
5,750


2002-03
30
38
13,595
4,100
5,150


First Degree
 
 
 
 
 


1998-99
33
11
24,930
8,250
2,750


1999-2000
35
12
25,630
8,950
3,100


2000-01
36
11
25,905
9,350
2,850


2001-02
35
15
26,260
9,200
3,950


2002-03
37
15
25,950
9,600
3,900


Sub Degree
 
 
 
 
 


1998-99
64
4
3,260
2,100
150


1999-00
47
5
3,810
1,800
200


2000-01
59
5
3,710
2,200
200


2001-02
53
4
5,325
2,800
200


2002-03
56
6
4,805
2,700
300



  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency.

  Notes:

  1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest five. Numbers may not sum to totals exactly due to rounding.

  2. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 50. Numbers may not sum to totals exactly due to rounding.

  More information on graduates from higher education courses and their destinations can be found in the Scottish Executive publication available at the following website:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00388-00.asp.

Fresh Talent Initiative

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many graduates from Scottish universities in each year since 1999 found work (a) in Scotland, (b) elsewhere in the United Kingdom, (c) elsewhere in the European Union and (d) outside the European Union, expressed also as a percentage of the number of graduates in each year.

Mr Jim Wallace: The data held by the Scottish Executive are obtained from a voluntary survey of EU domiciled leavers from full-time courses at Scottish higher education institutions which is conducted for the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), as explained in the answer to question S2W-16061 on 27 April 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

  Estimates of the numbers of graduates gaining employment in Scotland and elsewhere have been calculated on the assumption that there is no difference in location of employment between respondents and non-respondents to the survey. The estimates should, therefore, be treated with some caution.

  Graduates from Scottish Higher Education Institutions Gaining Permanent UK or Overseas Employment by Location of Employment: 1998-99 to 2002-03

  

Location of Employment
Scotland
Other UK
Other EU
Other overseas


Academic Year


Percent of Respondents


1998-99
36%
12%
2%
2%


1999-2000
36%
11%
2%
2%


2000-01
38%
10%
2%
2%


2001-02
35%
9%
2%
2%


2002-03
38%
8%
2%
1%


Estimated Number of Graduates1


Academic Year
 
 
 
 


1998-99
13,950
4,800
800
800


1999-2000
15,250
4,850
850
850


2000-01
15,850
4,250
850
850


2001-02
15,450
3,850
900
900


2002-03
16,850
3,450
900
450



  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency.

  Note: 1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 50.

Fresh Talent Initiative

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many students currently studying in Scotland have applied for the two-year visa extension under the Fresh Talent initiative.

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many students living outwith Scotland but who studied at a Scottish institution have applied for the two-year visa extension under the Fresh Talent initiative.

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive from which countries the students are who have applied for the two-year visa extension under the Fresh Talent initiative.

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications for the two-year visa extension under the Fresh Talent initiative have been rejected and for what reasons any have been rejected.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme will enable non-EEA nationals who have successfully completed an HND, degree course, Masters or PhD at a Scottish university or college to apply to stay in Scotland for up to two years after completing their studies to seek and take work without requiring a work permit. We are intending to launch the scheme in summer 2005. Students are not able to apply for the scheme until it is launched.

Health and Safety

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current policy is regarding funeral workers handling cadavers infected with HIV, hepatitis B and tuberculosis.

Mr Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-12373 on 3 December 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Homelessness

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average number of times a year was that a family in temporary accommodation moved from one type of temporary accommodation to another in each year since 1999.

Malcolm Chisholm: Councils supply data on each application under the Homeless Persons legislation and these include, in those cases when a household spends time in temporary accommodation, the types of temporary accommodation occupied by the household in the course of their application.

  The table shows the number of applications by households with dependent children for 2002 and 2003, the number of those applicant households reported as having been placed in temporary accommodation by the local authority, and the number who occupied one type of temporary accommodation or more than one type while their application was being processed.

  Prior to 2002, data were not collected on the use of different types of temporary accommodation by local authorities. Data for 2004 will be published later this year.

  Number of Families Applying as Homeless and Number in Different Types of Temporary Accommodation

  

 
2002
2003


Number of applications
14,507
15,491


Number
 
 


In temporary accommodation
3,926
4,381


In one type of temporary accommodation
3,210
3,409


In more than one type of temporary accommodation
716
972



  Source: HL1 data reported by local authorities to the Scottish Executive Development Department Analytical Services Division.

  Notes:

  1. Figures for numbers in temporary accommodation show incidences of use of temporary accommodation for applications within the period, and this does not necessarily correspond to the actual number of incidences of use within the period.

  2. Due to technical problems, data on temporary accommodation are not available for a small proportion of cases (2% in 2002 and 1% in 2003).

  3. For this type of household, temporary accommodation is primarily used as an emergency measure in the course of processing the application, and households with children tend to be placed in local authority accommodation. Most households with children will be offered permanent accommodation as a result of their application (Statistical Bulletin Housing Series HSG 2004/5 available on-line at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00363-00.asp).

Homelessness

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people reside in temporary accommodation; how long the average stay is in temporary accommodation, and what its definition is of temporary accommodation.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Accounts Commission has collected information on the total number of households placed in temporary accommodation during the year by local authorities under the Homeless Persons’ legislation and the average length of stay. This information has been used as key performance indicator 6 for housing and is published on the Audit Scotland website at http://www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/pi2003/compendium/service/index.htm . indicator 6 was changed for 2003-04 and data on average length of stay in temporary accommodation are no longer collected centrally.

  The Scottish Executive also publishes data on the number of households in temporary accommodation as at the end of each quarter. the most recent figures are available online in the publications section of the housing statistics branch reference site (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/housing/hsbref), this provides a snapshot at a particular point in time, unlike the accounts commission performance indicator which represents numbers placed in temporary accommodation over a period of time.

  Temporary accommodation provided under Section 29 and Section 31 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 is that which is used by local authorities when carrying out their interim duty to provide accommodation to people who apply as homeless while their applications are being assessed, until a final decision has been made on their application. This interim duty to provide accommodation continues during the process of review if one is requested. Where the authority’s decision is that it has a duty to provide permanent accommodation, the interim duty to provide temporary accommodation continues until the duty to provide permanent accommodation is discharged.

  Local authorities use different types of housing in order to provide temporary accommodation; such as furnished and unfurnished flats, hostels and bed and breakfasts.

Law

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the commitments made during the debate in the Parliament on Institutional Child Abuse on 1 December 2004 and the letter of 21 December 2004 from the Minister for Education and Young People to the Convener of the Public Petitions Committee, whether discussions are concluded and agreement reached with the Scottish Law Commission regarding timescales for review of the law on limitation.

Cathy Jamieson: As stated by the Minister for Education and Young People in the debate on 1 December 2004, we expect the Scottish Law Commission to publish a discussion paper on limitation in the second half of 2005 and to report to ministers during 2006. Discussions are continuing on whether any aspect of the review could be brought forward, and we will announce the outcome of those discussions as soon as possible.

Local Government Finance

John Swinburne (Central Scotland) (SSCUP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities have the power, under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 or any other act, to surcharge council tax payers to cover any shortfall in local authorities’ pension funds.

Mr Tom McCabe: Local authorities can increase council tax as one of the ways they meet the costs of their pension funds but there are limits to the extent to which they can do so. There are three main factors. First, there are formal accounting regulations which govern how local authorities’ pension funds are accounted for. Second, there are safeguards in the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 relating to how a council or councils should account for any surplus or deficit to avoid undue impact on the council tax in any one year. Third, pension funds are subject to a three yearly actuarial review, one of the outcomes of which is to determine a rate of employer’s contribution that will address the medium to long term needs of the fund. Taking account of these various factors, it would be for each local authority to use the resources at its disposal (which would include, but not be limited to, income from council tax) over time to cover any shortfalls.

Local Government Finance

John Swinburne (Central Scotland) (SSCUP): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of surcharges have been imposed by each local authority to cover any shortfall in their pension funds in each year from 1997 to 2005.

Mr Tom McCabe: Information on the detail of how local authorities service their pension fund commitments is not held centrally.

Mental Health

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in improving provision for treatment and support for children and young people with mental health problems.

Rhona Brankin: There is a range of activity underway to improve provision for treatment and support for children and young people with mental health problems.

  The Scottish Executive has consulted on a draft framework for children and young people’s mental health promotion, prevention and care to assist local health, education and social work services in delivering integrated approaches to children and young people’s mental health. The final guidance will issued around October 2005.

  Recommendations on psychiatric in-patient services for children and young people in Scotland were published by our expert advisory Child Health Support Group in December 2004 and work is underway at a regional level to take the recommendations forward.

  Choose Life, our national suicide prevention programme, is raising awareness of positive mental health, wellbeing and suicide with young people and their carers in a variety of settings.

  The Scottish Executive has made £1 million available in 2004-05 and 2005-06 to support Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS) workforce development and a CAMHS Workforce Group has been established to take forward integrated workforce planning and development.

  The Scottish Executive has established HeadsUpScotland to contribute to the range of activity underway with a particular focus on involving children and young people.

Military Records

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to the Ministry of Defence and the National Archives about the transfer to Scotland of Scottish military records from the First World War, in particular those currently held at Hayes which are being considered for destruction.

Ms Margaret Curran: No. Military records are entirely a matter for the UK Government.

Ministerial Costs

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of overseas visits by ministers in (a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001, (d) 2002, (e) 2003 and (f) 2004.

Mr Tom McCabe: I refer to the answers to questions S1W-29052 given on 9 September 2002, S2W-2904 on 25 September 2003 and S2W-9345 on 25 June 2004 for information regarding the costs of overseas travel undertaken by ministers for the period from 1 July 1999 to 31 March 2004. Costs of ministerial visits overseas for the financial year 2004-05 will be published in the summer.

People with Disabilities

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Scottish Enterprise about promoting employment opportunities for disabled people.

Allan Wilson: Our enterprise strategy, A Smart, Successful Scotland, makes it clear that action is required by a number of agencies, including the Enterprise Networks, to tackle the barriers and special circumstances faced by disabled people, in becoming economically active.

  We are discussing with the Enterprise networks, Jobcentre Plus and other agencies, how our proposed employability framework can help improve employment opportunities for those at a disadvantage in the labour market, including disabled people.

People with Disabilities

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve employment opportunities for disabled people over the next five years.

Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2O-5932 on 24 March 2005 which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/sch/search.

People with Disabilities

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve education and training opportunities for disabled people over the next five years.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive believes everyone should have a chance to learn regardless of their personal circumstances. In 2003-04 activity by students on further education programmes, specifically designed for their additional support needs, increased by 9% on the previous year.

  Our recent guidance document Partnership Matters, assists those agencies involved in making and managing support arrangements for students with disabilities and additional support needs at college. The guidance encourages key partners to form local partnerships and develop agreements on supporting students in further education.

  There are a number of other initiatives designed to improve opportunities, such as:

  The Educational (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004, due to commence by the end of this year, will create a stronger, better system for supporting all children and young people who may need additional support, for whatever reason, to benefit from school education. It makes provision for improving transition from school with a view to ensuring that there is a continuum of support for these young people going into further education.

  From 2005-06, the Disabled Student Allowance will be extended to both full and part-time Scottish postgraduate students who fund their own tuition and living costs.

  The Get Ready for Work training programme for 16 to 17-year-olds aims to raise the skills of young people with additional support needs, including those with disabilities. In addition, Training for Work (TfW), Scotland’s voluntary training programme underwent a refocus in 2004-05 and now has a much clearer emphasis on vocational training towards a specific employment goal. TfW plays a strong supporting role in the wider Welfare to Work and social inclusion agendas by offering immediate access to training for the most disadvantaged, including disabled people.

Police

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many police hours have been lost due to criminal trials or court hearings being (a) delayed and (b) cancelled and how much this has cost in (i) staff pay, (ii) staff holiday time, (iii) staff cover and (iv) overtime since 1999.

Cathy Jamieson: This information is not held centrally.

Prison Service

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to assess the effectiveness of the correctional opportunities offered to prisoners.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  The SPS Analytical Services has a programme of work to evaluate SPS accredited programmes designed to address offending behaviour. An assessment of the effectiveness of these programmes will be undertaken by comparing the subsequent re-offending of programme completers with a control group of similar offenders who have not undertaken the programme.

Public Private Partnerships

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the capital cost was of each PPP project in each year since 1997.

Mr Tom McCabe: The estimated capital spend by the private sector for each PPP project since 1997 is shown in the table.

  Existing Contracts (Operational and Signed): Estimated Capital Spend by Private Sector (in Cash Terms £ Million)

  

Sector
1997-98
1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05


Schools:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Balfron 
 
 
2.9
8.1
5.2
 
 
 


East Renfrewshire
 
 
3.8
9.5
 
 
 
 


Glasgow
 
 
 
77.4
107.0
21.4
 
 


Falkirk
 
19.5
34.7
15.9
 
 
 
 


Fife
 
 
 
3.5
16.9
18.2
 
 


Highland
 
 
 
4.8
12.9
 
 
 


West Lothian
 
 
 
 
17.8
10.0
 
 


Aberdeenshire
 
 
 
7.9
7.6
 
 
 


Edinburgh
 
 
 
 
55.0
25.0
 
 


Midlothian
 
 
 
15.1
21.3
 
 
 


East Lothian
 
 
 
 
 
7.5
26.9
11.7


Aberdeenshire PPP2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
30.0


East Renfrewshire PPP2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.0


IT:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Moray
 
2.8
2.8
 
 
 
 
 


Highland
 
5.8
1.4
1.0
0.8
0.8
3.6
 


Edinburgh
 
 
 
20.0
10.0
 
 
 


Waste:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Argyll and Bute
 
 
 
5.1
10.5
 
 
 


Dundee
10.4
23.1
10.0
 
 
 
 
 


Dumfries and Galloway
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.0


Roads:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Angus A92
 
 
 
 
 
 
21.8
23.2


Other:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Perth and Kinross office accommodation
 
 
9.6
10.5
 
 
 
 


Strathclyde Police
 
 
4.0
13.0
3.0
 
 
 


Local Authority Total
10.4
51.2
69.2
191.8
268.0
82.9
52.3
84.9


Water and Sewerage:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Highland
9.3
14.9
3.5
 
 
 
 
 


Tay
 
 
28.2
52.2
3.6
 
 
 


Aberdeen
 
 
 
52.7
3.9
0.0
1.0
9.0


Moray
 
 
 
 
51.0
9.1
 
 


Almond Valley
 
8.1
66.9
30.1
 
 
 
 


Levenmouth
 
 
8.5
26.0
8.5
2.0
1.0
 


Dalmuir
 
 
16.4
14.7
1.1
 
 
 


Daldowie
 
 
13.6
45.1
12.6
 
 
 


Meadowhead
 
 
 
38.9
20.9
1.0
0.5
 


Water and Sewerage Total
9.3
23.0
137.0
259.7
101.6
12.1
2.5
9.0


Further and Higher Education:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Stirling College
2.8
0.1
 
 
 
 
 
 


West Lothian College
 
 
5.0
10.0
 
 
 
 


North Ayrshire College
0.1
7.0
2.6
0.1
 
 
 
 


Further and Higher Education Total
2.9
7.1
7.6
10.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0


Health:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Dumfries and Galloway NHS-Maternity Unit
 
 
4.0
5.8
 
 
 
 


Lanarkshire Acute
 
44.0
77.0
61.0
7.0
 
 
 


Crosshouse Maternity Hospital
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.5


Yorkhill HIS
2.0
1.0
 
 
 
 
 
 


Easter Ross PCRC
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7.0


Stonehouse
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.8
 


Ayrshire and Arran PCT
 
 
 
9.1
 
 
 
 


Argyll and Clyde Acute
 
 
 
9.4
 
 
 
 


Lothian PCT
 
 
3.5
 
3.5
 
 
 


West Lothian Tippethill
 
 
1.0
2.3
4.0
 
 
 


Tayside University 16 small projects
3.8
5.8
 
2.5
 
 
 
 


Highland PCT
 
 
10.4
4.0
 
 
 
 


Tayside PCT
 
 
3.3
6.7
 
 
 
 


RIE Little France
 
32.0
48.0
49.0
41.0
28.0
8.0
 


Glasgow University 210 bed DME Unit
 
3.2
4.8
3.6
 
 
 
 


PACS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7.5


Forfar CRC
 
 
 
 
 
 
4.7
4.9


Radiology Equipment
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.0
0.1


Cytopathology
 
 
 
 
 
 
0.1
 


Mid Argyll Community Hospital
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.0


Car Park Royal Infirmary
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7.0


Tayside E-financials
 
 
 
 
 
 
0.3
 


Health Total
5.8
86.1
152.0
153.4
55.5
28.0
18.9
32.0


Justice:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Kilmarnock Prison
5.0
27.0
0
0
0
0
0
0


Justice Total
5.0
27.0
0
0
0
0
0
0


Roads:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


M6
41.0
45.0
10.0
0
0
0
0
0


M77
0
0
0
0
0
0
47.0
75.0


National Roads and Transport Total
41.0
45.0
10.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
47.0
75.0


Social Work:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


SCRA
0
2.0
0.5
0.5
0.3
0.1
0
0


Social Work Total
0
2.0
0.5
0.5
0.3
0.1
0
0


Nationalised Industries:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


HIAL
0
8.0
1.0
0
0
0
0
0


Nationalised Industries
0
8.0
1.0
0
0
0
0
0


Total
74.4
249.4
377.3
615.5
425.4
123.1
120.7
200.9

Public Sector Staff

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all overseas posts maintained by (a) it and (b) each of its agencies, broken down by location and giving the employment status of each post.

Mr Tom McCabe: A list of overseas posts maintained by the Scottish Executive is provided in the following table. This includes direct appointments and secondments for which the Executive is meeting the full costs, but not staff on loan where the receiving organisation is meeting the main salary costs. Agencies within the Scottish Executive Main Bargaining Unit (SEM) have indicated that they have no overseas posts at present. Information is not held centrally on overseas appointments by other agencies outwith the SEM.

  Table: Overseas posts maintained by the Scottish Executive

  

Present Post
Location
Employment Status


Head of Office
Scotland House, Brussels
Assignment


Deputy Head of Office 
Scotland House, Brussels
Assignment


Policy Advisor
Scotland House, Brussels
Assignment


2 x Desk Officer
Scotland House, Brussels
Assignment


Policy Adviser
Scotland House, Brussels
Assignment


EU Office Team Head (policy). 
Scotland House, Brussels
Assignment


Personal Assistant and Receptionist
Scotland House, Brussels
Locally Engaged Staff


Office Manager and PR, 
Scotland House, Brussels
Locally Engaged Staff


Parliamentary Officer 
Scotland House, Brussels
Locally Engaged Staff


2 x Administrative Assistant
Scotland House, Brussels
Locally Engaged Staff


First Secretary, Scottish Affairs
British Embassy, Washington
Assignment


Second Secretary, Scottish Affairs
British Embassy, Washington
Assignment


Seconded National Expert Education and Culture
European Commission, Brussels
Secondment


Seconded National Expert 
Legal Service
European Commission, Brussels
Secondment


Seconded National Expert
Enlargement
European Commission, Brussels
Secondment


European Parliament
Atrium Building, Brussels 
Secondment


2 x Stagiaire (in-service trainee)
European Commission, Brussels 
Stagiaire


Civil Service Bi- Lateral Exchange Programme
Ministere de la Justice, Paris 
Secondment


Ecole Nationale of Administration
Strasbourg, France
Secondment



  Note: The Scottish Executive has advertised for the post of First Secretary/Counsellor, Beijing, China.

Scottish Executive

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has a policy of using Scottish rather than English legal terminology in parliamentary answers and ministerial statements.

Ms Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive’s policy is that parliamentary answers and ministerial statements should be as clear, accurate and helpful as possible, and that any legal terminology which is used is appropriate in the particular context.

Scottish Executive Accommodation

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the maintenance costs were for (a) Victoria Quay and (b) all other Executive-run offices and buildings in (a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001, (d) 2002, (e) 2003 and (f) 2004.

Mr Tom McCabe: The information requested is set out in the following table.

  Maintenance Costs (£ Million)

  

Financial Year
Victoria Quay
All Other Buildings


1999-20001
n/a 
n/a 


2000-011
n/a 
n/a 


2001-02
0.7
1.2


2002-03
0.7
1.3


2003-04
0.4
1.4


2004-052
n/a 
n/a 



  Notes:

  1. Maintenance costs cannot be separated out for these years.

  2. Expenditure totals for 2004-05 are not yet available.

Scottish Executive Accommodation

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was in respect of office upgrades for Executive-run offices and buildings in (a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001, (d) 2002, (e) 2003 and (f) 2004.

Mr Tom McCabe: The cost of office upgrades (excluding maintenance and repairs) carried out in core Scottish Executive buildings since 1 April 1999 is shown below. Line (a) gives the aggregate cost for all work except the major refurbishment of St Andrews House which is shown in line (b).

  Costs (£ Million)

  

 
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05


(a)
0.85
0.63
1.49
2.33
2.33
1.40


(b)
6.26
4.20
5.86
 
 
 



  Expenditure on upgrade projects comprises both capital and current expenditure under present accounting rules.

Scottish Executive Contracts

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-10921 by Mr Tom McCabe on 11 October 2004, which capital projects have had art works included in the capital costs in the last six years and what percentage of total capital expenditure this represented in each case.

Mr Tom McCabe: The only significant capital project within the Scottish Executive’s core estate where art works were included in the capital cost over the period was the refurbishment of St Andrews House. In this case, the budget was £100,000 – 0.5% of the capital refurbishment cost. This information on other public sector capital projects is not held centrally.

Scottish Executive Contracts

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive who advises it on the incorporation of art works in capital projects.

Mr Tom McCabe: In relation to the most recent capital project within the Scottish Executive’s own core estate during which advice was sought on the incorporation of art works into that project, the refurbishment of St Andrew’s House, that advice was provided by Art in Partnership. Further information about this project is given in the answer to question S2W-15646 on 27 April 2005. Information in relation to the incorporation of artworks in all public sector capital projects is not held centrally.

  The Scottish Arts Council provides advice and assistance to anyone interested in enhancing their home or work environment through the purchase of art works. For example, Own Art is an interest free loan scheme for Scotland to make it easy and affordable for individuals and organisations to buy original, high quality contemporary art. Further information about the work of the Scottish Arts Council can be found at www.scottisharts.org.uk.

Scottish Executive Expenditure

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its end-year flexibility (EYF) levels have been in each year since 1999, expressed also as a percentage of the total block grant, and what the estimated EYF levels are for each of the next five years.

Mr Tom McCabe: The following table details the end-year flexibility (EYF) levels for the Scottish Executive including its arms length bodies for each year since 1999:

  

Year
Executive Portfolios EYF
Arms Length Bodies EYF
% of Total Budget


1999-2000
£435 million
-
2.6%


2000-01
£718 million
-
4.0%


2001-02
£477 million
£166 million
3.2%


2002-03
£332 million
£62 million
1.9%


2003-04
£403 million
£220 million
2.5%



  Notes:

  1.It has not been possible to obtain separate data for the arms length bodies EYF figures for 1999-2000 or 2000-01.

  2.The % of Total Budget calculation is based on the total level of EYF for each year (i.e. column 2 and column 3 of the table).

  The Scottish Executive does not forecast estimated levels of EYF and does not therefore have figures for each of the next five years.

Scottish Executive Expenditure

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-7472 by Mr Andy Kerr on 6 May 2004, whether it will publish an updated version of the answer reconciling the totals with the data in the tables.

Mr Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-15204, answered on 12 April 2005 which details the reconciled spend for 2003-04. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Scottish Executive Expenditure

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what costs it incurred in (a) travel, (b) accommodation and (c) subsistence expenses as a result of claims made by UK government officials in (i) 1999, (ii) 2000, (iii) 2001, (iv) 2002, (v) 2003 and (vi) 2004.

Mr Tom McCabe: The information requested cannot be identified from claims data held. In general, the costs of UK government officials would be met by the relevant UK Department.

Scottish Executive Records

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to its Records Management Manual , whether it will publish a list of lost files as referred to in paragraph 3.9 and give brief details of the subject matter of its lost files since 1999, and prior to that of each lost file of the Scottish Office which it is now responsible for maintaining under the Transfer of Property etc. (Scottish Ministers) Order 1999.

Mr Tom McCabe: The list referred to in paragraph 3.9 of the Executive’s Records Management Manual is a means to track down files which have been mislaid. It is not intended to be an on-going list of lost files. However, we will publish a list of lost files as part of the Scottish Executive Publication Scheme as soon as this can be arranged.

Scottish Executive Records

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will complete its records management policy in respect of computer-generated documents and electronic records.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive is in the process of implementing a system for the electronic storage and archiving of records. It is planned that the system will be fully implemented during 2006. The same broad policies and principles of record keeping that apply to the paper based system also apply to the storage of information in the new electronic record management system. Detailed guidance on keeping records in this system is not finalised but will be published in October 2005.

Scottish Executive Records

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of its destroyed files have had the protective marking "SECRET", "CONFIDENTIAL" or "RESTRICTED"; whether it will confirm that none of the documents contained within files having this marking will be destroyed or, if not, whether it will, prior to any such documents being destroyed, consult the (a) Parliament and (b) Scottish Information Commissioner.

Mr Tom McCabe: Yes, files which have at some point carried one of the protective markings listed have been destroyed. The Executive manages its records in partnership with the National Archives of Scotland, whose staff work alongside Executive staff to ensure that the proper procedures are followed. Files which reach the end of their scheduled life are reviewed in compliance with a retention schedule as recommended by the Code of Practice on Records Management published under Section 61(6) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. They are recommended for destruction when appraisal staff are satisfied that they contain no papers that are likely to be of continuing or historic interest. Protective markings often apply for only a limited period of time and have no bearing on the time for which a file should be retained. Thus the destruction of files is part of the normal business of managing the Executive’s records, and there is no requirement for the Executive to consult either Parliament or the Scottish Information Commissioner as part of the process.

Scottish Executive Records

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of the documents or files containing documents relating to the (a) Holyrood Inquiry and (b) Holyrood Project will be subject to the 30-year rule; if so, whether early release of such documents can be considered under its records management rules and, if so, on what date or dates their early release or, in the case of the first dated thereof, the early release of that document or file can be considered, and whether any person outwith the Scottish Executive will be consulted in relation to such decisions.

Mr Tom McCabe: Under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, the 30-year rule no longer applies to any files. The only potential bars to public access to information held on these files will be particular exemptions which might be applied under either FOI or the Data Protection Act 1998.

Scottish Executive Staff

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-14445 by Mr Tom McCabe on 1 March 2005, which of the organisations referred to have made financial contributions towards salary costs and how this has affected the Executive’s budget headings.

Mr Tom McCabe: Of the 46 organisations, listed in the answer to question S2W-14445 on 1 March 2005, 33 made contributions towards salary costs. The following table lists the organisations and provides details of those who contribute to the cost of the secondment.

  The salary costs of the secondments funded by the Scottish Executive would be charged to the staff costs of the Executive’s Administration budget.

  

Secondments fully funded by the importing Organisation
Secondments fully funded by Scottish Executive
Secondments where there is shared funding


Aberdeen City Council
Bi lateral Exchange (France)
Columba 1400 


Advocacy Safeguards Agency
Bi Lateral Exchange (Denmark)
Girl Guide Scotland 


Barnardos
Ecole Nationale d’Administration
Jubilee Scotland


British Embassy, Washington
European Commission X 2
Moray Council


Cabinet Office
Fife Council
Scottish Civic Forum X 3


Crown Office
Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS)
Scottish Council for Development and Industry


DfID
Network of International Development Organisations in Scotland (NIDOS)
Social Investment Scotland


DT1
Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT)
 


DfES
Scottish Business in the Community
 


Edinburgh University
Stagiaire X 5
 


Equal Opportunities Commission
Princes Trust X 2
 


European Commission
Water Industry Commissioner
 


European Parliament
No. 10 Downing Street
 


FCO UKREP
 
 


Fife Council
 
 


Food Standards Agency
 
 


HM Treasury X 4
 
 


Home Office
 
 


Learning and Teaching Scotland
 
 


NHS 
 
 


Rural Payments agency
 
 


Scottish Council Foundation
 
 


Scottish Enterprise X 2
 
 


Scottish Prison Service
 
 


Social Investment Scotland
 
 


Solway Heritage
 
 


Totals 30
19
9

Scottish Executive Staff

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-14445 by Mr Tom McCabe on 1 March 2005, how the salaries of those seconded to other organisations are accounted for under the Executive’s budget headings.

Mr Tom McCabe: The cost of the secondment to be funded by the Scottish Executive is charged to the staff costs heading of the Executive’s Administration Budget.

Scottish Executive Staff

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-14444 by Mr Tom McCabe on 4 March 2005, which of the organisations referred to have made financial contributions towards salary costs and how this has affected the Executive’s budget headings.

Mr Tom McCabe: Of the organisations referred to in my answer to question S2W-14444 on 4 March 2005, only Scottish Power made a financial contribution towards salary costs. The cost of secondments funded by the Scottish Executive were charged to the staff costs heading of the Executive’s Administration Budget.

Scottish Executive Staff

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-14444 by Mr Tom McCabe on 1 March 2005, how the salaries of those seconded from other organisations are accounted for under the Executive’s budget headings.

Mr Tom McCabe: The cost of secondments that are funded by the Scottish Executive are charged to the staff costs heading of the Executive’s Administration Budget.

Scottish Executive Staff

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how staff on secondment are counted for the purposes of determining civil service numbers.

Mr Tom McCabe: Staff on secondment (either inward or outward) are not included in staffing returns. The Scottish Executive follows cabinet office mandate criteria and only civil servants who are in post and are carrying out civil service functions are counted.

Scottish Executive Staff

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what effect secondments have on (a) the reported number of staff working for it and (b) its budgets for salaries.

Mr Tom McCabe: Secondments have no effect on the reported number of staff working for the Scottish Executive. Secondees are not counted for the purposes of determining the Scottish Executive’s staffing numbers.

  Salaries of staff in the Scottish Executive’s core departments are paid from the administration budget. The current provision for staff costs, set out in the 2005-06 supporting document to the Budget (Scotland) (No. 2) Bill, includes the cost of permanent staff and secondments which may be funded from the Executive’s Interchange Budget or from the Policy Division related to the secondment.

Scottish Executive Staff

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its relocation costs were for employing staff who previously worked for another government body or agency outwith Scotland in (a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001, (d) 2002, (e) 2003 and (f) 2004.

Mr Tom McCabe: The information requested is not held centrally for all staff.

Scottish Executive Staff

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many grievances were taken out by Executive employees against it in (a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001, (d) 2002, (e) 2003 and (f) 2004.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive introduced a formal process for recording grievances raised by its employees in 2002. Figures prior to this are not available. The following table provides information on the number of grievances recorded in Scottish Executive core departments from 2002 to 2004.

  

Year
Total Staff in Scottish Executive Core Departments
Grievances Raised (Number)
Grievances Raised (Percentage)


2002
4,468
12
0.27%


2003
4,591
11
0.24%


2004
4,640
25
0.54%

Sustainable Development

Rosie Kane (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what contribution it has made, with reference to the Essen European Council of December 2004, to enhancing the efficiency of cooperation between Europe and Asia by promoting a proactive regional strategy to ensure more efficient and rational use of natural resources.

Rosie Kane (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what contribution it has made, with reference to the Essen European Council of December 2004, to enhancing the efficiency of co-operation between Europe and Asia by promoting a proactive regional strategy to focus on priority environmental sectors such as urban and industrial pollution and the protection of natural resources.

Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-15999 on 26 April 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Tartan Week

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure that Scotland benefits from the events that took place during Tartan Week 2005.

Mr Tom McCabe: The range of events for Tartan Week 2005 was the most extensive yet. An evaluation of these events is being prepared by the Executive’s Analytical Services Division and this will help assess the impact of this year’s programme.

  Tartan Week is one element of the Executive’s efforts to promote Scotland in the United States. Through the Scottish Affairs Office in Washington DC, the Executive is committed to working throughout the year promoting Scotland in line with our International Strategy.

Tartan Week

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its assessment is of the success of Tartan Week 2005.

Mr Tom McCabe: The programme for Tartan Week 2005 was the most extensive and ambitious to date. More Scottish organisations than ever before were involved through events such as the Scotland Village and Scotland Run in New York and the Life Sciences seminar in Boston.

  It is too early to accurately assess the impact of Tartan Week but the Executive’s Analytical Services Division is producing an overall evaluation of the 2005 programme. This report will look at amongst other things, the effectiveness of events, media impact in Scotland and the US and changes in Promotion of Scotland indicators.

Tartan Week

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to build on Tartan Week 2005.

Mr Tom McCabe: The work of promoting Scotland in the US is carried out all year round through our Scottish Affairs office in Washington and Tartan Week is an important element of that work. The Tartan Day Working Group established in the lead up to Tartan Week 2004 and the evaluation that our Analytical Services Division carried out during this year will assist the Executive and partners build on Tartan Week 2005.